RMU’s Gebhard, Howard, Welsh invited to Hockey Canada camp

Hockey Canada is holding its women’s development camp this week in Calgary, Alberta and three players with Robert Morris ties have been invited.

Current Robert Morris defender Kirsten Welsh and forward Jaycee Gebhard have been invited. Forward and 2018 alumna Brittany Howard will also be attending this camp that will help determine the Hockey Canada roster for the 2018-19 season.

“As we begin our new Olympic cycle, it’s important that we continue to identify and develop those players who have made their mark among Canada’s deep pool of female hockey talent,” Gina Kingsbury, director of women’s national teams, said in a press release. “These are players who we believe have the potential to be part of our program for many years to come, and we’re excited to be working with many familiar names who have been part of our program in the past, as well as be introduced to new players who have shown us through their on-ice performances that they could fit well within our program.”

A total of 41 players have been invited to the development camp. At the conclusion of the camp on Aug. 11, that number will be reduced to a single roster which will play the United States in a three game series Aug. 16-19.

The 2017-18 season saw Howard, Gebhard and Welsh finish first, second and fourth respectively in points for the CHA season. Howard led the league with 25 goals and 24 assists and was named 2017-18 CHA Player of the Year. Howard was drafted tenth overall in 2017 by the Buffalo Beauts of the NWHL and is also expected to be selected in the 2018 CWHL Draft. Gebhard, a junior, saw her point total drop after her freshman year but still put up great numbers, scoring 13 goals and 25 assists. Welsh, a senior, has already set school records for scoring as a defender. Her 12 goals and 18 assists gave her the record of single-season goals by a defender. She is also the all-time school leader in points by a defender.